SIFA 2026: Playwright Chong Tze Chien steps in as Singapore International Festival of Arts director for its 49th edition, promising stories that connect with both casual audiences and visiting artists as the festival heads toward its 50th anniversary next year. Public Safety & Daily Life: A new IPS-linked road safety poll finds only 61% of residents feel Singapore roads are safe, with over three-quarters blaming impatience for most hazards—prompting fresh calls for a more responsible road culture. Food Culture: Five new Japanese brands are landing in Singapore, including Torikizoku’s $3.90 yakitori and viral cheesecakes, while a separate debate asks whether the black bits in Hokkien mee are harmless char or a sign of dirty woks. Tech & Health: AstraZeneca and Roche Diagnostics will expand AI pathology and biomarker testing across nine Asian markets, including Singapore, to improve breast and lung cancer classification. Family & Learning: NUS is trialling ScholAIstic, a generative AI platform to support teaching and learning via course-aligned dialogue and feedback. Pop Culture: Pokemon Center Singapore reopens 1 July with Solgaleo as its new mascot and a Singapore-heritage-inspired revamp. Regional Security: At the Shangri-La Dialogue, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praises Indo-Pacific “model allies” and lists Singapore among partners stepping up on security spending.